Contract negotiations between the Broncos and star cornerback Champ Bailey resumed last week.

It's perhaps no coincidence talks restarted a few days after Bailey's impressive performance against the Indianapolis Colts.
Seven days after walking out of Invesco Field at Mile High on crutches because of an injured right heel, Bailey held Indy's primary receiver, Reggie Wayne, in check while Colts quarterback Peyton Manning worked on rookie cornerback Perrish Cox and nickel back Nate Jones.

A week later against Jacksonville, Wayne made 15 catches for 196 yards.
Negotiations with Bailey are centered on a four-year extension that would keep the nine- time Pro Bowler with the Broncos through 2014. Among the complications in negotiations is Bailey will be 36 in what would be the final year of that deal. There's a good chance he would convert to safety by then.

Another potential hang-up figures to be money. The more money involved, the more tussles. Cornerbacks generally are among the NFL's top three highest-paid positions — after quarterback and alongside pass rushers. Bailey is making $13 million this year, which places him third among cornerbacks after the New York Jets' Darrelle Revis ($16.25 million average the next two seasons) and Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha ($15.1 million annual average).

The Broncos had been in serious negotiations with Bailey in the weeks leading up to their season opener. But once the season began, the Broncos tabled discussions as they got busy with resetting their roster and dealing with the death of receiver Kenny McKinley.